Spectrum Mobile Review: an Affordable and Exclusive MVNO

Spectrum Mobile is an MVNO, a Mobile Virtual Network Operator, that runs on Verizon’s towers and provides fantastic 4G LTE coverage nationwide. Spectrum started as a provider for cable TV and internet, and their service requires users also to have Spectrum Internet. The main body of their company remains in cable and internet, while their mobile branch is new, only starting in 2018. That allows them to take their notes from the best. 

Spectrum Mobile only has a few plans, but all they need is an Unlimited plan for $45 a month to catch our eye. As long as you are a Spectrum internet customer you have the chance to save big on your mobile plan each month. Our Spectrum Mobile review will cover an overview of Spectrum Mobile, and what you can expect with one of their plans! 

Spectrum Mobile At a Glance

Spectrum Mobile is best known for its unlimited data package. For only $45 a month, users enjoy unlimited data on Verizon’s nationwide network. Spectrum Mobile is currently limited by their requirements to also be a Spectrum Internet customer, but users who bundle their phone and internet together have seen huge savings across the board. There are almost too many MVNOs to count these days, and deciding which one to choose is a near-impossible decision. 

Here’s a little information about Spectrum Mobile to help you make your decision! 

What Sets Spectrum Mobile Apart? 

With so many options, it is important to know what sets Spectrum Mobile apart when you are thinking of switching wireless providers. Spectrum Mobile’s $45 one-line unlimited plan sets them apart. That and their internet and mobile bundle coming in at $50 makes it a robust money-saver if you are looking for quality and affordable phone and internet plans. 

They don’t offer a lot of plans, but their unlimited plan is among the cheapest around and it pairs exceptionally well with Spectrum Internet. Their mobile plans do not have any contracts, so you can rest easy knowing that your plan can be changed at any time if you need to. 

Price of Spectrum Mobile Plans

Spectrum Mobile has three major plans. They have a pay-by-the-gig plan, an unlimited plan, and an unlimited plus plan. In terms of value, Spectrum Mobile’s unlimited plan is the best choice and provides customers with 20 GBs of high-speed data for only $45 a month. 

Spectrum Mobile does not have too many options when it comes to phone plans, but the plans they have are enough to keep them in the competition! 

What Kinds of Plans does Spectrum Mobile offer?

There are two major kinds of plans offered at Spectrum Mobile. They have two unlimited plans (priced at $45 and $55 for single-line plans) and a pay-as-you-go plan that is $14 a gig. 

All of their plans have unlimited talk and text, and the unlimited plans offer 20 GB and 30 GB of high-speed data respectively before they get deprioritized. This is common amongst all cellular providers in the United States, MVNOs, and major wireless networks alike. Almost all of their “unlimited plans” are just a big chunk of high-speed data, likely more than the user will ever get through, before getting deprioritized, which leads to significantly slower speeds in times of high cellular data usage in the area. As long as you aren’t streaming a ton of video on your phone, we think 20 GBs of high-speed data is enough to get you through the month. 

What Network does Spectrum Mobile Use?

Spectrum Mobile runs on Verizon’s network. Verizon’s 4G LTE network, and, by extension, Spectrum Mobile’s network covers almost all of the continental United States, meaning you’ll get great coverage no matter where you are. The big limiter is areas where spectrum internet is available. 

Can You Bring Your Own Cell Phone?

Yes! If you have a phone that works for you, you can bring your own device to Spectrum Mobile. To bring your device onto Spectrum’s network, you have to check your device’s compatibility, make sure your device is “unlocked,” and order a Spectrum Mobile SIM card!

Spectrum Mobile: Pros & Cons

Before you switch to a new carrier, it is important to check out their pros and cons and compare them to the competition. You have to find the one you like the best and ensure that you feel good about the switch. Like any other MVNO, Spectrum Mobile has pros and cons, and we will cover what we liked and what we didn’t like! 

👍 What We Liked

• Spectrum Mobile shares Verizon’s network. Sharing Verizon’s network allows Spectrum Mobile users to take advantage of their high-speed coverage nationwide.
• Affordability. Spectrum Mobile’s unlimited plan pricing is excellent, and it makes it really easy to start saving money on your phone plan.
• Fantastic multi-line savings. Going from one to two lines, the price of the unlimited plan drops from $45 to $30 a month. That is huge savings! 
• Nationwide Wi-Fi hotspots. As a Spectrum Mobile customer, you have access to Wi-Fi hotspots all across the United States. This lets you get high-speed data without cutting into your plan’s allocation. 
• Device trade-in offers. Spectrum Mobile keeps device trade-in offers that are very beneficial. If you are looking to purchase a new phone, switching carriers at the same time will yield you an excellent deal on all of their phones. 

👎 What We Didn’t Like

• Poor by-the-gig plan. 15$ a GB for each GB used is far too expensive to be a worthwhile choice. We only recommend pursuing Spectrum Mobile if you are looking at their unlimited plans.
• You have to use Spectrum Internet to qualify. Spectrum Mobile has an alluring unlimited plan, but if you don’t have Spectrum Internet you cannot become one of their customers.
• Limited Spectrum Internet coverage. Spectrum internet is not available in the majority of the United States, and that means it is difficult to become a Spectrum Mobile customer. If you are interested in a fantastic phone and internet bundle and you live in an area where Spectrum Internet is available, this is a great choice. 
• Limited plan options. Their unlimited plans are great, but Spectrum Mobile is lacking in their selection of plans. With their by-the-gig plan being so expensive it puts them way behind other MVNOs that provide low-gig plans for incredible prices. 

Spectrum Mobile Services & Features

Spectrum Mobile offers a wide variety of services and features, and getting to know what they have to offer is essential before you choose your provider. It is a little easier with this carrier because you must also have Spectrum Internet if you want to use it, but the features on a Spectrum Mobile phone plan include unlimited talk and text, favorable trade-in offers, excellent customer support, and 5G access on compatible devices. 

Spectrum Internet Services and Features

If you live in an area where Spectrum Internet is available and are interested in switching providers, the mobile and internet bundle provided by Spectrum is a fantastic and money-saving deal. It comes with 300 Mbps WiFi speeds and the unlimited Spectrum Mobile plan for just $50 a month. That is a huge deal, and it is the greatest one  that Spectrum offers. 

Spectrum Mobile Plans & Pricing

Spectrum Mobile offers three plans and each of which has its own benefits and downsides. The three Spectrum Mobile phone plans are as follows: 

• $14 per GB for Spectrum Mobile’s by the gig plan
• $45 per month ($30 with 2+ lines) with Spectrum Unlimited
• $55 per month ($40 with 2+ lines) with Spectrum Unlimited Plus

Spectrum Unlimited is a clear winner over their by-the-gig plan. With two or more lines, you would have to use less than two GBs for that plan to be cheaper than their unlimited plan, and with how data-intense phone applications are these days it is all too easy to chew through data. The unlimited plus plan provides 30 GB high-speed data and lets you stream HD quality video when on mobile data, making the extra $10 a month worth it if you will take advantage of that. 

If not, Spectrum Unlimited is the best deal they’ve got. If you have two or more lines in the plan, paying $30 a month per line is a fantastic deal, and much cheaper than a lot of the competition. 

There is a huge selection of new phones available at Spectrum Mobile. If you are looking to switch providers and want to purchase a new phone, peruse their selection and find the one that’s right for you. 

Spectrum Mobile Phone Selection 

You can bring your own phone to Spectrum Mobile, but if you are looking to purchase one new, they have a huge selection of phones for upgrades. When you are switching to Spectrum Mobile, you can choose from one of these cell phone options from Apple, Samsung, Google, and more. You may choose from a list that includes: 

• iPhone 14 (standard. pro, plus, pro max)
• iPhone 13 (standard, pro, pro max)
• iPhone 12
• iPhone 11
• iPhone SE
• Google Pixel 7, 7 pro
• Google Pixel 6a
• Moto g pure, g 5G, g stylus 5G
• Motorola edge, edge+
• Orbic Journey 5
• Samsung Galaxy S22, S22 Ultra, S22+
• Galaxy Z Flip4, Fold4, Fold3 5G
• Galaxy S21 FE 5G
• Galaxy A53 5G
• Galaxy A13 5G

How Well Does Spectrum Mobile Actually Work?

Call & Text Performance

Spectrum Mobile’s call and text performance is some of the best in the business. Their coverage map is robust and Spectrum’s users are able to take full advantage of Verizon’s 4G LTE and 5G networks. 

Data Speeds

The data speeds of your network are an understandably huge factor in deciding whether or not Spectrum Mobile is right for you. Verizon’s network delivers fantastic data speeds, but the main trade-off of MVNOs is that MVNO customers have less priority than the major network’s customers. In times of high bandwidth usage, you may find that your speeds are uncharacteristically slow for the strength of your signal. The plans are much cheaper, but there is a chance that you will have less than optimal speeds at some times of the day. 

Spectrum Mobile  vs. Competitors

After the Spectrum Mobile review of their phones, plans, pros, and cons, let’s dive into how they hold up against the competition. 

Spectrum Mobile vs. Verizon

Verizon the major wireless company provides much better data speeds and plan and phone variety, but their plans are much more expensive. Verizon users have priority data all the time and they pay for that with plans that can be twice as expensive as those provided at Spectrum Mobile. 

Spectrum Mobile vs. Visible Wireless

Visible Wireless is another MVNO that runs on Verizon’s network and they have unlimited plans that are priced lower than Spectrum’s. That being said, Spectrum Mobile’s greatest weakness, the fact that users have to be Spectrum Internet members, becomes one of its greatest strengths. The mobile and internet bundle provided by Spectrum Mobile is a crazy good deal. 

Spectrum Mobile vs. Google Fi

Google Fi uses T-Mobile and US Cellular towers, and they provide well-priced plans. Google Fi is a good competitor, but T-Mobile’s 4G LTE network is not as far-reaching and robust as Verizon’s, meaning that customers may experience data throttling more often when the area’s bandwidth is under high strain. 

Spectrum Mobile Customer Service

Spectrum Mobile offers customer service 24/7, helping customers solve problems quickly and with little fuss. To speak with an agent, call 833-224-6603. They are also available through their social media accounts, but we recommend either using the live chat or calling the provided number. 

What Customers Have to Say About Spectrum

“Today we went to the Inverness, Florida Spectrum store to change our mobile service to Spectrum and purchase a phone. This was a process we dreaded but walked out of the store happy with smiles on our faces. We worked with Bruce who was terrific! He was knowledgeable, patient, kind, honest, and fun to interact with. He was meticulous in making sure everything was switched over correctly, giving us the best deal, and making sure we were completely satisfied. Great customer service!” - Ken. (via Money Saving Pro)

“First off, they charged me for two phone lines from the start. Their tech rang me up twice and so I was charged for FOUR months of service on two lines, despite calling customer service upwards of four times to remove the second line. I was told I would be charged $50 per line. I was charged $63 per line. I do not get service anywhere. Genuinely, nowhere. I was more impressed with Sprint’s service. I cannot remove my autopayment and they will not even allow me to view my statements. My wifi was out half the time I had it. What’s the point in paying for something that never works?” - Emily. (via Money Saving Pro)

“I just switched and I am more regretful than impressed. The cellular service is no better than their internet. I was hoping that wouldn’t be the case.” - Sybil. (via Money Saving Pro)

Spectrum Mobile FAQ

Can Spectrum Mobile Support eSIM?

Yes! Spectrum Mobile supports eSIM. Instantly activate a Spectrum Mobile line with an eSIM-enabled device. Bring your own compatible phone or shop for the latest eSIM-compatible devices, all without needing a physical SIM card.

Is Spectrum Mobile GSM or CDMA?

Spectrum Mobile uses GSM like Verizon since they share the same network. 

Can Spectrum Mobile Phones be Unlocked?

If your phone was purchased from Spectrum Mobile and activated on a Spectrum mobile line, is paid off in full, and your Spectrum Mobile account has been active and in good standing for 60 days then yes! You can unlock your phone to transfer it to another wireless carrier. 

TLDR; Spectrum Mobile is an Affordable MVNO that Offers Great but Limited Service to US Customers

Spectrum Mobile has some good deals and good phones in their store, but it is hard to look past the fact that you need to have Spectrum Internet if you want to even think about switching to Spectrum Mobile. For that alone, we think that there are other MVNOs at a similar price point that would be a better fit for customers looking to switch providers. That being said, if you want to bundle your internet and phone plan, Spectrum Mobile has an amazing deal on that.